The following is from a work-in-progress about the history of Fullerton. You can support my ongoing research and writing on Patreon.
The Local History Room of the Fullerton Public Library has microfilm from the Fullerton Daily News-Tribune newspaper stretching back to 1893. I am in the process of reading over the microfilm, year by year, to get a sense of what was happening in the town over the years, and creating a mini archive. Below are some news stories from 1944.
World War II
World War II still raged across the world.
The War at Home
On the homefront, Fullertonians did their part to support the war effort, including buying war bonds and patriotic events.
Local industries, like Kohlenberger Engineering and Hunt Foods produced products for the war. Kohlenberger built transimission systems for Amphibious Landing Craft, like the kind used in the invasion of Normandy on D-day.
Politics
Voters elected Verne Wilkinson, William Montague, and Hans Kohlenberger to City Council.
Montague, an orange rancher, was selected as Mayor.
Despite some pushback, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented fourth term.
Sports
Baseball remained a popular local attraction, with local teams playing games at Amerige Park.
The Fullerton Union High School pool, or Plunge, opened to the public in the summer months.
Education
School administrator Redfern submitted his resignation.
Misecllaneous
Below are a some interesting miscellaneous articles from 1944:
Deaths
Pioneer orange rancher and Fullerton’s first mayor Charles C. Chapman died.
Here is his obituary:
Charles Clarke Chapman, pioneer of Fullerton, a civic leader here for many years and one of the most prominent business men and philanthropists in the southland, passed away at his home on North Cypress last evening at 10:30 o’clock. He would have been 91 years of age next July.
Known as the “father of the valencia orange industry,” Mr. Chapman had other manifold interests and was engaged in many philanthropic and educational enterprises.
Funeral services will be held at the Christian church next Monday at 2pm McAulay and Suters will be in charge.
Chapman was born July 2, 1853 in Macomb, Illinois. As a Western Union messenger boy he carried the message of President Lincoln’s assassination. In 1871 he went to Chicago and after some years in the building trades, in 1878 began the publication of local county histories, being a pioneer in this method of preserving local history and biography. He and his brother Frank built up an extensive publishing business and erected many buildings in Chicago.
In 1894 he came to California, residing first in Los Angeles at Adams and Figueroa, the present site of the Automobile Club of Southern California. In 1898 he moved to Fullerton, where he resided until his passing.
His first California real estate interest was a citrus orchard in Fullerton, where he developed the popularity of the Valencia orange and came to be known among old time citrus growers as the “father of the Valencia orange industry.” For thirty-two consecutive years his “Old Mission Brand” received the highest price for oranges in any market. He opened the first Valencia Orange Show in Orange County by personal telephone conversation with President Harding.
He was a frequent speaker at the Citrus Institute and did very much to further citrus production and packing methods. His citrus holdings in Fullerton have been increased to approximately 630 acres, now operated by family corporations.
Mr. Chapman was intimately identified with the development of Southern California.
In Los Angeles he was a large investor in real estate, owning many valuable properties, the outstanding of which is the Charles C. Chapman building at 8th and Broadway. He was president of the Fullerton Community Hotel Company and of the Fullerton Improvement Company and builder of the Charles C. Chapman building in Fullerton, where are maintained the offices of Placentia Orchard Company, of which he was president for fifty years. He served as director of the Farmers & Merchants bank of Fullerton, the Commercial National Bank of Los Angeles, the Bank of Italy of San Francisco and as chairman of the board of the original Bank of America of Los Angeles. He was a director of the Bank of America of Los Angeles.
He was a director of the Bank of America National Trust & Savings Ass’n. And served for many years as chairman of the board of the Fullerton branch. He was a director of the National Title Insurance Company of Los Angeles and for many years a member of the board of directors of the Christian board of Publication of St. Louis, Mo.
Deeply interested in the Masonic fraternity, he was a member of Fullerton Lodge No. 339 F & A.M; Fullerton Chapter No 90 R.A.M.; Santa Ana Council No. 14 R.&S.M. Fullerton Commandery…a 32nd degree member of the Los Angeles Scottish Rite and a member of Al Malaikah Shrine. He was a life member of the Los Angeles Athletic Club, the Chicago Historical Society, the New England Historical and Genealogical Society, a charter member of the Automobile Club of Southern California, a member of the Institute of American Genealogy, a Rotarian and a member of the Lincoln Club of Los Angeles from its inception.
Mr Chapman was active in the incorporation of the City of Fullerton and served as its first mayor. During the first World War he was chairman of the Selective Service Board of Northern Orange County. For ten years was a member of the State Immigration & Housing Commission and for ten years, a trustee of the San Diego State Teacher’s College. He was a lifelong Republican, active in party affairs in both State and Nation and served as a delegate to two National Republican Conventions, at one time being actively considered as nominee for vice president of the United States.
A devoted member of the Christian Church from early boyhood he continued his active support throughout his entire life. Although not an ordained minister he served as pastor of the church at Anaheim for the first years of his residence in this area and organized and served as the first pastor of the First Christian Church at Fullerton, being later chosen as Pastor Emeritus.
He has in his files over one thousand written sermons. For nineteen years he was President of the Christian Missionary Society of Southern California and presided over its annual conventions. He took active part in the dedication of one hundred and seven churches in Southern California. For many years a member of the State Executive Committee of the YMCA, he served for ten years as its chairman. He served as president of the State Sunday School Association and as vice president of the International Executive Committee. His purse always open for liberal contributions to worthy enterprises one of his undertakings was the building of a hospital at Nantung chow, China, which after years of great benefit to the teeming inhabitants of that area, was destroyed by Japanese bombs early in the Chinese War.
Formally schooled only in the elementary grades, Mr. Chapman educate himself by wide reading in many fields, was a gifted public speaker and a devoted supporter of higher education. For several years he served as a trustee of Pomona College. In 1920 he realized an ambition of many years by founding and endowing California Christian College, acting for twenty years as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. In his honor and because of the valued and continued support which he made to the institution, the Board of Trustees in 1933, changed the name to Chapman College. In June 1930, the University of Southern California conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts–in recognition of distinguished services in the interests of education.
On October, 1884 at Austin, Texas, he married Miss Lizzie pearson, two children being born of this union, Ethel M., wife of Dr. William H. Wickett, and C. Stanley. Mrs. Chapman passed away in 1894.
In 1898 in Los Angeles, he married Miss Clara Irvin. One son was born of this union, Irvin Clarke.
Surviving, in addition to the widow and children are a sister, Mrs. Dolla E. Harris of Los Angeles, six grandchildren, Chas. M. and Wm. H, Jr, sons of Dr. and Mrs. Wickett. Elizabeth, Mary Anne and Stanley Jr., children of Mr. and Mrs. C. Stanley Chapman. Cheryl Ann, daughter or Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Chapman and two great-grandchildren, Penelope and Chas. Jr., children of Mrs. and Mrs. Chas. M. Widkett, all residing in Fullerton.
Additionally, the following folks died:
Stay tuned for top news stories from 1945!
Fullerton History 